Suzuki reports continued upward sales trend

Publish Date:

Aug 14, 2014

BREA, Calif. - July sales for Suzuki were up more than 20 percent compared to July 2013, the OEM reported, fueled by strong results for the existing Suzuki RM-Z 250 and 450 models as the market anticipates arrival of the 2015 lineup.

The new 450 was developed with race-testing help from Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, who said the 2015 RM-Z450 “reminds me why I picked the Suzuki in the first place … it’s cool to see with the triple-air (fork) how much the same it is as our (race) bike. The motor is actually really good, and I’m surprised how close they are to a race bike.”

Suzuki dealers increased sales of entry-level motorcycles through July, with the GW250 and new Burgman 200 ABS leading the way, according to Steve Bortolamedi, SMAI communications manager. The refreshed 2015 DR200S DualSport will begin arriving at Suzuki dealers in August, he reported.

Sales of the Suzuki QuadSport Z400 were up 109 percent over the same period last year, the company noted.

In racing news, Suzuki returned to the Loretta Lynn’s Motocross championships with its complete Rider Support truck setup, backing a fleet of amateur Suzuki races competing in the annual event. Florida teenager Hannah Hodges dominated the Girls 12-16 class aboard her Suzuki RM85, winning every moto and the championship.

To celebrate the sales success of Suzuki’s leading dealers, Suzuki created the “Race to Suzuka” contest and escorted 30 dealers to Japan for the famed Suzuka 8-Hour road race. Dealers got to watch Kevin Schwantz compete on the Yoshimura Legends team, and were also on hand to celebrate Yoshimura’s 60th Anniversary.

“It was my first time to Japan,” said Shawn Bostwick of Del City Oklahoma Suzuki. “It was a great experience overall, with phenomenal racing action. And Suzuki did a wonderful job of putting it on; I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I’ve been on many incentive trips before, and the difference with Suzuki is that the company’s executives are always approachable. The people who didn’t take advantage of this contest missed a trip of a lifetime.”